The last time I wrote, I had just spoken with the first commercial agent to contact me. I am hopeful about that prospect, and I have a second meeting with them later this week. However, in addition, two more agencies have called.
Because it is unwise to make enemies in the entertainment industry, one of these two most recent agencies shall remain nameless. Just listening to the pat-and-dry message the group left, I was not keen to go to the interview. They included where to park, gave me a down-to-the-minute meeting time and an e-mail address to contact if I was not available. When I asked my roommate about this agency, he said to “tear up” the invitation to audition. He confirmed a sense I have had recently: though having an agent is appealing, it is better to wait a while for a group I might be pleased with than to go right now with one I almost certainly will not be pleased with.
The other group, the Daniel Hoff Agency, is very reputable. I was frankly surprised that this group contacted me. I think my roommate was too, though he was too nice to admit it.
Preparation for this interview was not a pleasure. I headed to bed early so I could look and act as well as possible–but my nerves prevented my getting really quality rest. On the day of the meeting, I set aside extra time so as not to be rushed in getting ready. I hoped my outfit and hair would look great. Unfortunately, this was not to be. When I arrived at the Wilshire Boulevard location, I spent the first 15 minutes in the bathroom trying to FORCE my hair to look good.
The interview turned out to be a “commercial read.” They gave me a half-page of “copy” (fancy term for “stuff to read”) and about ten minutes to prepare. My nerves continued into the audition room, and when I finished my read, I felt sure the girl would erase my audition as soon as I left the room. I said, “could I please do that again? I am sure I could do it better.” She hesitated and then said I could. I think my second read was marginally better, but anyway, I do not expect to hear back from this agency.
My disappointment with this interview plagued me for the next couple of hours until I remembered something the undeniably successful (whether you like him or not) Bill Clinton once said: “the opportunities I passed on affected me at least as much as those I took.”
Okay, so I did not pass on this opportunity, it passed on me, but the lesson is still there. Perhaps missing this opportunity and making a different one will be for the best.
Hello, folks! This week is dress rehearsal week for Much Ado About Nothing, and we open Friday. I here include the postcard we are distributing to promote the production. Please note that I will not perform the final weekend, as I plan to be in Colombia.
My interview with the commercial agent went really well. I felt nervous, but I remembered something I learned from my cousin Jessie: it’s alright to be quiet when one does not know what to say. I also learned recently that this sometimes comes off as more calm than forcing oneself to be extroverted.
The agent said the picture I sent him (see the article “When You’re Better Looking in a Picture”) got me in the door but that the others I had were too “modelly” and not appropriate for commercials. He told me they were interested in representing me and that I should call him by Monday after doing two pieces of homework.
First, I should pick up his book, entitled “So You Want to Be in Show Business.” I picked it up from Samuel French Bookstore on the way home, and it gives practical advice to the aspiring actor. Practical is my favorite kind of advice, just like classes that teach things that are actually useful are my favorite classes.
Second, I should find snapshots at home that show me doing the special skills listed on my resume. These skills include playing tennis, ballroom dancing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, fly-fishing and iceskating. He said “though we only get seven or eight requests a year for actors with these skills, if your picture shows you doing them, you are more likely to get called in.”
I contacted my parents and my former ballroom dancing partner to see if they could scrounge up some pictures. Then I recruited my cousin Pat and my friend Brian to take some action shots while we played tennis and went to the ice arena. I play tennis frequently, so that part was a gimme, but I had not gone iceskating in a while. How fortunate that those things we learn when we are little very often stay with us. Iceskating was no problem either.
I perceive the homework assignments as a test to see how I would perform for the agency as a client. Therefore, I hope to have all my ducks in a row today so I can call them back a day early.
Last week, the first commercial agent responded from the thirty or so resumes and head shots I have sent out so far. He left a message saying I should confirm my appointment as soon as possible.
Even just to return the call, I was excited and nervous–a bit giddy. I decided to wait until the next day to call so I could be sure to talk with someone in person. But then at about 8:3o the next morning I thought, “what if I forget to call later? Won’t that come off worse than just leaving them a message?” So I called and left a message and then was left with the fact that I had not confirmed with a regular person. I called a couple more times to check if anyone was there later on–it reminded me of a time in high school when I needed to get a hold of a girl I really liked but to whom I had not talked in a long time. I must have called a hundred times to not get an answer–if she had caller i.d., it probably came off really badly.
My appointment confirmed, I now had almost a week before the interview. I decided to learn a new comical resume and to shore up those skills on my resume that have been in disuse.
After searching the Internet and looking over a couple of books, I decided on the monologue that follows this posting.
The skills I decided to brush up on were Irish, German and Standard British accents. I picked up some dialect tapes from the library. Working with dialect tapes can be boring, but I find slogging through them a couple of times to be worth the effort. I also checked out the films “Far and Away” and “Sliding Doors,” which showcase Irish and modern British accents.
Working with dialect tapes and watching films is all fine and good, but the real thing about dialects is that one must practice them by speaking with them over a sustained period of time. This summer, it was handy to have a British friend around with whom to practice speaking as an Irishman or a Briton.
One time I spent a full night in a comedy club pretending I was British. It would have been awkward for my American self to later run into those people I spoke with that night; but I don’t have any qualms about acting as someone else when I am, first of all, with people I will not see again, and when second of all, I am not attempting to do anything dishonest.
I am probably least skilled at the Irish accent. Unfortunately, I did not have the guts to run a whole class with an Irish accent at school today. Maybe tomorrow.
The interview is the day after tomorrow. Rather than over-practice and make myself nervous, I have decided not to press myself between now and the interview. I’ll run the monologue from time to time; perhaps I’ll practice my Irish accent during class tomorrow, and I’ll run through the German and British tapes just once.
My comical monologue:
Valentine’s Day
by DE Moening
Edited by Hans Roberts
Her name was Connie Cavanaugh (sigh), and in my 6th grade world, I worshiped her from afar. I knew full well that if the truth of my ardorous wishes were known to Connie, I would be visited by some hideous affliction.
So I did the only thing I could do in a situation like that; I spent my entire fortune of $2.30 on the most ornate, lacy, flamboyantly luscious Valentine’s card I could find at Hallmark, and sent it to Connie, signed “Your Secret Admirer.”
I waited for her to perform the complex deductions that would ultimately lead her to realize it was I who held her in such prepubescent lust. The pinnacle of this intricately orchestrated scheme would be the reward of her sweet, simple kiss; offered to me as a token of undying love.
Of course the deduction Connie arrived at was that Eddie Van Deussen had sent it and of course he assured her that he had.
The world has turned many times since then and I know that Shakespeare was right about the course of true love… But I also know that if you’re lucky enough to take a chance once in a while, open yourself up a bit, put ALL your chips on double-zero and give the wheel a big spin, sometimes you hit the jackpot.
I have no enormous news to share, but I continue to plug away at my current pursuits…
Last week, I began sending out copies of my current resume and headshot to prospective commercial agents and print modeling agents. I bought a booklet called “The Agents” at Samuel French Bookshop, which is where most of Hollywood buys acting books. I decided that my best possibility of an “in” was to contact agents seeking bilingual actors. My fingers are continually crossed that I will hear back from one or more of them soon.
Much Ado About Nothing will open in just a few weeks, so my rehearsal schedule is picking up. A challenging bit for me is a solo I am meant to sing just awfully. In “Film Acting, An Actor’s Perspective,” Michael Caine explains how an actor playing a drunk should never act as though he is trying to be drunk; rather, he should act like a drunk trying to be sober. Similarly, I am to act like a poor singer who is trying to sing well, and this has required some careful thought and advice from the musical director. The swing dancing numbers have a been a real joy–from time to time during a dance, I’ll be full of energy and throw myself into the routine. It is real fun. (Laura Fernandez, can you confirm that this is good grammar? Fun is a noun, so it should be described with an adjective, not an adverb. Am I right?)
This last weekend, a few friends and I went to The Highlands, a club located at the Hollywood and Highland Complex. This is also the location of the Kodak Theater, where the Oscars are filmed. As one of my friends had a connection at the club, we got in for free and received free drinks and a wristband that gave us access to all sections of the club. It was fun, living how the other half lives–at the moment, I couldn’t have afforded the $20.00 entry fee and $11.00 drinks.
I hope you are all very well and enjoying life. Thank you for reading about what is going on with me.
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Another Midwestern actor moved to LA this weekend in the person of my cousin, Patrick. I am excited for his arrival and hopeful for what lies ahead of him here.
Casting directors, if you are in need of a good looking nineteen-year-old actor, let me know! I can connect you with a personable young guy named Patrick.
